New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-25

There has been a good deal Of discussion in the
africa. cIrclc during the last wsek concerning Maurice
barrymore, change that Sadou has ia his new play
for sara Hcfuhart, La Io,ca.T taken situations from
his "Sadlrldl' acted hero by Madame Mod
lc,la Nj barrymore says that he sent French
translation ot his play TO sara Lcrnhardt Tbs Is
certainly true. but Marcus Mayer, who gave tho Ms
TO her state, that hc al not do until jane 70 Of this
year when ho handed to her on board tho steamer
that Wa, 10 tabc her homo Il 4, understood that at
that time ". sardou'5 play wls Well advanced Tn
doub',y there Is considerable similarity IA sitna
ton common TO both plays. II Is one IN which tho
heroine who's, virtue IS ,od the Ir'c Of her lovers
safety. stab, tho villain who mahcs the proposition
Imt the circumstances leading TO tlis are entirely an
fcrcnt and u f., quito possible that VI. oar'on VIII be
ablc 10 show II he desires to do that the situation
has been tong since utilized
Tranclsquc Sarccy's criticism on Ia Tosca" has
recently arrived here He gives a very Interesting
account Of tho rrobem thai was set before tho dra~
mat.,t A. Fanny Davenport has secured tho piece
for this country. anl VIII produce It next scon.
brief summary ~ the remarks o the greatest French
critic VIII probably lie welcome He writes: ." Tho
p.ccc hAs succeeded In Paris and WILL think succeed
to an even greater In countries the
for which Il seems To have been specially made. Tho
Tosca is before and above nll Splcndld article for
the export tralc. NJ Sardou had difficult problem
given him. and he aonc could hnv" successfully solved
H. lie had to make a play which Bcrnhardt could put
In her pocket and act practically, all by herself
mean by this, that tho people who had to gIvo her
cues should DO few possible and that their roles
should bo such A. could be played by any capable
actors II also necessary that while sara should
BE- constantly the stage her part should not be too
cALau,tlns Theodore her out although She
ONLY cNpcndcl her cncrg - tho great situations and
walked through tho rest Now Sardou had to devise
scene, In which She had only occasional EXPLANATIONS
aud great deal Of uantonmc for she cXccs in panto
milne. lie therefore had To avoid all those psychic
logic developments that ncec,ifate long Conversations
munologucs and tuadcs which beside, being fatimlug
to the actress would probably not have pleased tho
YanlccS any than they would the MalaSs or tho
Cochin. chinese Tho necessity was action, broad
ton that would mako the eyes of audiences start and
rouse the deepest emotions. But this was not all.
international pubcs arc crazy for fine specacles.
However rapid aud oven crude the action. It must
afford opportunities for luxurious setting and got this
setting must not DO SO essential but that II 10
curtalcd, and changed tho necessities of travel may
compel At tho samo time tho piece had To be So
made please the ParIslahS. and to do this II had
10 have I'm addition to tho above qualities the delicate
handling and subtle effects that should prove II tho
work of an accomplished artist For II The Tosca
did not succeed In Paris It would DO valueess else
where such was tho task sot sardou. Dumas tho
most skllml Of dramatsts, could not. think. havo
accomplished 1t, but then am bound to say. don't
believe he owuld have tried. Sardou has emerged
trlumphanty nom the ordcai.'
OF Bcrnhdrdt's performance of this part Sarcey
writes In tho most glowing terms though no regrets
see hor In IA play In which there Is not shadow Of
poetry lie thinks It il bad thing for dramatic art
when of tho first authors Of tho day, tho most
Ingenious III situations and tho most inventive In
his plots, Is driven to become Snowman OF strange
animals with ono groat actress tho star OF his
monagcrio."